FAQs

First, check the browser you are using. For best website functionality, we recommend using FireFox. Most browsers will work properly, but there are some known issues with older versions of Safari and Internet Explorer.

If you're receiving an error message while trying to upload your master, please skip down to the next question. If you're receiving an error message while trying to upload a design file, please skip down to the Artwork Uploader question.

If these steps don't resolve the issue, our technical support staff is standing by to assist you with any questions you might have. You can email us at information@crystalclearcd.com or call us directly at 866-704-3579 Toll Free.

Below are four common errors.

ERROR: Device Sampling Rate Invalid.When first opening the Master Uploader Application an error may appear warning you that the sample rate of your device is not ideal. This warning is referring only to your device. It is stating that when you review/playback songs for preview, the device you are on will not preview them at their best quality. This can be disregarded, but be aware that for best playback listen to your test CD on another device.

ERROR: Invalid file type.The Master Uploader App will only accept the following file types: WAV, AIFF, FLAC. You can convert from other file types using iTunes, download a how-to guide HERE.

ERROR: Invalid bit rate or sample rate.The Master Uploader App will only accept files with a bit rate of 16 and a sample rate of 44.1. You can convert the sample rate and bit rate of your songs using iTunes, download a how-to guide HERE. MISSING LINKED FILE

ERROR: I receive a timeout error in the middle of my upload.Occasionally during long uploads your computer and our server will be disconnected. Please start the uploading process again if this occurs. If the upload still fails after a few attempts please try your upload using a different, faster internet connection.

If you are not having one of the above errors, please contact us via email at information@crystalclearcd.com or call us directly at 866-704-3579 Toll Free.

ERROR: File size too big. Most likely the resolution is too high on your artwork. The maximum file size for uploading is 7000x7000 pixels. If your art is saved at 300 dpi, the recommended resolution, your file will not exceed this maximum.

ERROR: File did not make it to press. Please check the following before contacting customer service:
• If submitting a PDF, please ensure all fonts are outlined.
• Check your PDF settings. Click here to see our PDF recommendation. MISSING LINKED FILE.
• Save your file as a flattened image and re-upload.

ERROR: Nothing happens when I click the Upload, Position, or Review buttons.Please ensure your pop-up blocker is turned off. Download a guide here for turning off blockers in various browsers.

ERROR: All of my buttons are grayed out except the Review button.One of two things could cause this.
1. You've positioned, but not yet reviewed, your artwork. You must review all files before you can approve them.
2. Your artwork has been approved and locked. To unlock your artwork, please contact your project adviser.

Other issues might stem from the file type. Try saving your design in another file format (we accept PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and EPS files) and uploading the new file.

If your issue is with the appearance of the artwork, such as a color shift, please review the below section on design, especially the question related to common problems.

Creating an account is easy to do. Simply select the "Register" link at the top of the screen, fill in your contact information, and enter your desired username, password, and email address. Please note that the address you provide upon registration is your permanent user name, and the password provided is case sensitive.

In order for you to place an order, you must create an account first. Doing so protects your privacy, prevents others from falsely establishing accounts in your name, and helps us group and track your orders.

Your contact information will be kept private and secure, and you will not receive unsolicited email. For more information, please visit our Privacy Policy page.

If you have forgotten your password, please click on "Sign In", choose "Forgot your password", and enter the email address tied to the account. We will then email your password to you.

OPTION 1: Upload CD Tracks with our App OPTION 2: Upload DDP Files through our FTP Uploader OPTION 3: Physical Masters

Disc duplication refers to the process of taking an existing blank CD-R or DVD-R disc and burning information onto that disc, much the same way you copy CDs on your computer. At Crystal Clear, we use state-of-the-art dedicated duplicating towers to manage the duplication process. These machines do a cursory evaluation of the disc to check for read and write errors before making an exact duplicate of the disc you submitted. Disc duplication is the best option if you have small quantities (up to 5,000 pieces) or need quicker turn around time to meet a deadline. Typical production time for duplication is 2-7 days. We can produce your project in 24 hours if needed.

Disc replication refers to a manufacturing process in which your discs are manufactured from scratch. We evaluate your original disc for read and write errors, then make a glass master of your disc. This glass master is then used to create a stamper, which is mounted on a machine that uses heat and pressure to physically mold your individual discs. This is the highest quality of disc manufacturing. It takes as little as 1/2 of one second to mold one CD on this kind of equipment. The cost of creating both the glass master and stamper are already included in the quote shown in our instant pricing panel. This is the best option if you want larger quantities (300 pieces or more) and you have time (an average of 10 business days) to produce your project.

To move forward on your project, we need to receive your IPR form, your artwork, and your disc content. These items can be submitted online from your "My Account" page.

If you decide to mail your master, we recommend that you send two original masters for your project. This way, if one master is flawed (for example, scratched), we have a backup disc to use. Otherwise, the production process remains on hold until we receive a usable master, which could cause you to miss your deadline.

Take extra care to ensure that your disc is exactly as you want it to be. We do not alter your content in any way before we duplicate or replicate it. We do not inspect your content for accuracy, errors, missing tracks, quality of recording, or any of a large number of problems that can occur when discs are not properly created. You are fully responsible for all content on your disc; we only copy what you give us.

Yes. Take extra care to ensure that your disc is exactly as you want it to be. We do not alter your content in any way before we duplicate or replicate it. We do not inspect your content for accuracy, errors, missing tracks, quality of recording, or any of a large number of problems that can occur when discs are not properly created. You are fully responsible for all content on your disc; we only copy what you give us.

If you want your CDs to be compatible with most playback equipment, CDs have a time limit of 74 minutes.

DVDs do not have a time limit. Instead, they have a capacity limit of 4.7 gigs for a DVD-5 and 8.5 gigs for a DVD-9. Compression will determine how much data you can get on a DVD, but be careful not to compress your images so much that they look bad when played back. It is a good idea to play a DVD on several different screen sizes (before submitting it) to see if the video quality meets your expectations.

In short, no. There is not currently a setting that will allow your DVD or CD to be played universally.

Of the two, DVDs are harder to standardize. There are several formats that exist, and some of the older DVD players will not be compatible with more recent formatting styles. To make the disc compatible with the most equipment possible, we recommend you have a professional studio create your master for you. You can also test your DVD in a number of players before submitting it; if it played correctly, you should be alright with most machines. Remember, no matter what anyone tells you, there is no such thing as a DVD that will play in all DVD machines.

CDs are much more forgiving than DVDs, but problems can exist. The most common mistake we see is when a client formats the CD on a computer and does not use settings that will allow the CD to operate on a standard CD player (like the one in your car). Again, the best way to avoid this kind of problem is to try the disc out in several different machines before sending it to us.

If you're uploading your music files for your order, you will have a chance to enter your song title, performers, album title, and artist name into our system, which then generates your CD-Text. If you submit a physical master, this CD-Text needs to be included on your master, as we do not edit your files.

For media players (such as iTunes) to recognize your song titles, you will need to submit your album information to Gracenote or AllMusic, depending on the players you want to recognize your music. These sites offer technology that recognizes music and sends its metadata to your music player software. Click here for instructions on submitting to Gracenotes and AllMusic.

Nielsen SoundScan collects weekly sales data from venues, retail chains, independent stores, and digital download providers. Among the data collected are two identifiers that Nielsen SoundScan uses to track sales: UPC and ISRC.

A UPC, represented by a barcode, is used to track the sale of your album as a complete unit. If you plan to sell physical copies or digital albums, you should obtain a UPC, either from the Uniform Code Council or from your disc manufacturer, before your project goes through production. Then, you need to register the album and its UPC with Nielsen, letting them know to track sales on that album.

ISRCs are used to track sales of individual recordings; they are also used to identify and track plays of your music for royalty purposes. These codes must be encoded in the metadata for each track during the mastering phase. Whoever is mastering your music can obtain the ISRCs through the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry or, if you're in the Untied States, by applying on the US ISRC Agengy website. Once you have obtained ISRCs for each song, the songs and their corresponding code need to be registered with SoundScan to track sales.

To answer the question: If you have obtained UPCs and ISRCs for your music, properly included them in your packaging or metadata, and registered them to activate tracking, then, yes, your music will report back to SoundScan. If you have not taken these steps, it won't report to SoundScan.

Crystal Clear prints flyers, brochures, posters, CD and DVD inserts/traycards, stitched books, and promo flyers on a super high grade of 100# gloss text paper.

CD and DVD sleeves, wallets, digipaks, etc are generally printed on 15 pt C1S (C1S means coated one side—think of this stock as heavy duty card stock with a gloss finish on one side). We do reserve the right to change the paper stock brand, style, or weight without notice, if we feel that it is necessary.

Crystal Clear CD offers a free Aqueous coating on many, but not all, products. This coating protects the ink resist dirt, wear, rubbing, and finger prints. It also makes images pop off the page more. In terms of finish, you can select our Premium Gloss Card Stock or our Premium Matte Card Stock. A third option, our Retro Uncoated Card Stock, is available for some products. For more information on these, please visit here.

Replicated disc faces start out silver. Replicated discs faces automatically include color printing with 1, 2, or 3 colors. We can offer 4 color printing or 5 color printing (four colors with a white flood); five colors is our most popular option. Depending on the type of artwork and number of colors, the printing method is either screen printing or offset. Screen printing is ideal if you have limited colors and are not printing images. Offset printing is used for full color artwork and is especially good for artwork with images.

Duplicated discs start out with white or silver faces. We offer black text (for all-black text or small logos only), grayscale images, or full-color (for color artwork or solid black/heavy ink coverage) printing. Your options will vary depending on the product you choose. Please refer to the instant pricing grid for quotes.

To prevent issues, it is best for you to create an account (or log in to your existing account) before adding items to your cart. Then, select the items you need, add them to your shopping cart, and proceed to checkout. Artwork, master files, and your IPR are uploaded after the order has been placed.

You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit cards or your PayPal account. We also accept checks or money orders. If you pay with a company or personal check, your project will be held until we have received confirmation that the check has cleared your bank.

Yes, we accept orders placed from anywhere in the world. All you need is internet access and to create an account.

However, we do not currently ship internationally.

The shipping cost is different for each project. We will contact you with shipping costs prior to processing your order for production. If you do not wish to pay the shipping costs, you can cancel your order at that time.

We offer several shipping options. UPS Ground, UPS 3 Day, UPS Overnight, UPS Overnight Early Delivery, and UPS Overnight Late Next Afternoon. We do not ship with client accounts.

Please remember that all shipping time are estimates, not guarantees, of delivery time. Allow enough time in the production and delivery schedule for errors, equipment failures, or missed deliveries. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for missed shipping times or shipments that do not arrive when expected. Please allow enough time for potential production or shipping delays when placing your order.

Each product's pricing grid will list the standard quantities available for that item. If you do not see your desired quantity listed, you may contact us to see if it's something we can offer.

Production time refers to the actual time it takes to produce your order once it has been approved, and your production time is based on the options you select when placing your order. The instant pricing grid for each product lists its expedited production options.

Production time is counted in work days (Monday-Friday) and exclude holidays. Production time does not include shipping time.

Please consider that there can be several days between an order being placed and the start of production. Here is an example: Order is placed and paid for. You submit and approve your IPR form, your Artwork, and your Masters through your Crystal Clear CD account. The day after all of these materials are approved by you and processed by Crystal Clear will be Day 0 of your production schedule.

Please remember that while we do make most deadlines, sometimes we miss a deadline. Please allow plenty of time for the production of your project. We cannot be responsible for missed deadlines. Additional charges (in addition to what you see on the website pricing grid) will apply for changes in requested deadline after a project has been approved for production.

We cannot begin work on your project until all pieces, including payment, are in our plant. However, you can submit pieces (such as your artwork) as they are ready. In some cases, it makes sense to send us a piece to review to make sure you are on the right track with your project, thereby avoiding a delay further down the line. Contact your personal Project Adviser for additional advice.

Yes, as the quantity of the products you are ordering increases, the cost per product decreases. For example, the cost per business card for an order of 250 business cards is higher than the cost per business card for an order of 1000 business cards.

No. Once the order is placed, you may upload and approve your artwork; however, your order will not move into production until it is paid for. A full refund is available prior to the time you approve any of the artwork on your project. After that, we do not offer refunds of any kind.

Yes! Our team of experienced graphic designers would love to design your artwork for you. Our designers will work with you to correctly convey your message and make the right impression on your fans. You will have an initial design ready for review within a matter of days, and you don't have to pay if you don't like what we do.

For pricing on our design services, please refer to the design page on the website or talk to your Project Adviser.

Certainly! If you'd like to design your own artwork, or if you are using an independent graphic designer, please use the templates we provide here.

There are several small things that happen when submitting a project that can really slow the process down. We have listed the most common problems below.

Improper Trim Size. Please see our templates pages for the proper sizing of your product.

No Bleed or Safety Margin. Bleed is extending any color, photo, or design elements past the trim line. Safety margins are cushions between essential elements (text or artwork, for example) and the intended trim line. To get your order through production on time, our print shop trims printed sheets in large stacks on our top-of-the-line equipment. While this is efficient, it's not always accurate. Bleed and safety margins give the print shop a margin of error when trimming, just in case the accuracy is slightly off. Our templates have guidelines showing the bleed line, trim line, and safety margin.

Color Profile. Files, artwork, or images that are sent to us in a format other than CMYK—namely, RGB—can cause issues later in production. CMYK and RGB are two different color models, and understanding the difference can mean producing a great-looking insert rather than a muddy, disappointing one.

The RGB color model—which is used by the internet, monitors, televisions, scanners, and digital cameras—uses very small bands of red, green, and blue light to generate color. RGB is considered an additive color model because, when you add all three colors together, you get white light, and when you turn off all three lights, you get black. By mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue light, you can create most other colors.

The paper of a magazine, catalog, or CD booklet can't generate light like a computer monitor. Therefore, it has to rely on reflected light, and the subtractive color model CMYK. When you add cyan, magenta, and yellow together (CMY), you get a color close to black, and when you don't lay down any ink, you get white—that is, the white of the paper. A fourth color, black, is added for economical and practical reasons, and is referred to by "K" so as not to be confused with cyan (blue). By mixing varying amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, you can create most other colors.

CMYK and RGB models do not have the same ranges of color, so converting files from one system to another is not always accurate. For the best results, verify that all elements you are including in your project are set to CMYK. All commercial, full-color printing uses CMYK inks.

Image Resolution. Another common error is images that are too small or low resolution. All images should be 300 dpi when viewed at the size they will be used at in the project (100%).

Wrong File Format. We accept file formats that include PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and EPS. Please do not send us original program files such as Quark, InDesign, Publisher, etc. Instead, convert these files to an accepted format.

Fonts Too Small or Not Included. We recommend 8 point type or larger. For smaller type, it's best to use easily readable fonts without tiny lines or curls. If your fonts are not properly embedded in your file, they might disappear or change when transferred from one computer to another computer or to the press. To be safe, be certain to include your fonts.

Of course, you can always contact your Project Adviser for help if you do not understand how to deal with any of these issues.

Crystal Clear CD is happy to offer both hard copy proofs and digital PDF proofs.

Our hard copy proofs are actually press proofs, with the same printing on the same paper as your order will have. This kind of proofing does cost more than digital proofing, and it does increase the amount of time it takes to produce your project.

A PDF proof is a medium-resolution image displayed on your computer screen. Since all screens are different, you cannot rely on a PDF proof to represent accurate color, but it will show content (such as type or trapping issues). It also shows trim and bleed. Your PDF proof is created automatically by sending your original uploaded artwork to our press; this is what you see when you Review your proof online.

If your project is color-critical, we recommend a press proof. Otherwise, save the time and money and go with the PDF proof. Contact your Project Adviser for more information and for pricing on press proofs.

If you choose a press proof, the color will match fairly closely, but it will not match exactly. If you choose a PDF proof, the color of your final printed project will not match the proof that you receive from us. Your Project Adviser can help you with any questions regarding this matter.

Simply put: no. Because the different pieces require different printing methods and machinery—disc faces are screen printed, inkjet printed, or offset printed, whereas inserts are offset printed—and use different materials, the artwork will not match. We encourage our customers to use distinct artwork on these pieces, making it clear that you did not intend that they match. If you have additional questions, please contact your Project Adviser.

If you do not intend to sell you product in a retail environment, no, you do not need a barcode. However, if you do hope to sell your product in a retail environment (in stores or through distributors), you might want to consider adding a barcode. (See the above question on SoundScan reporting, UPCs, and ISRCs.)

Because not every project needs a barcode, Crystal Clear CD does not automatically build this cost into the product's pricing. However, we allow you to add one to your order for a nominal one-time (per project) fee.

For best results, save your pictures at 300 dpi (dots per inch) and your other artwork at the highest resolution available (600 dpi is OK but our equipment will utilize up to 2400 dpi). Do not save pictures at resolutions higher than 300 dpi; this slows down the process and does not improve the image quality.

We recommend the following formats for upload: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and EPS.

Be certain to include all fonts in your files. All artwork should be CMYK, not RGB or something else. Please call our experienced Project Advisers with any questions.

Normal turn time for vinyl industry wide is 16-22 + weeks. Vinyl production is more of an “art form” rather than a manufacturing process where machines do all the work. Vinyl requires experienced and knowledgeable craftsmen working within a much more meticulous process compared to other manufacturing. But the best answer is simply an issue of supply and demand. The demand for vinyl has skyrocketed in recent years, but there are only a limited number of vinyl suppliers. Crystal Clear's plant is the second largest in the country so even though turn times industry wide take a while, we can complete projects as quick as anyone.

One creative solution to speed the process and get vinyl to you and your fans faster is to use test pressings as a custom run.

For example: The test pressing will come in a white protective sleeve with a plain white label attached to the record that you can personally sign as a special “limited edition” special pressing, etc. Test pressings are usually available within 30 days of the order submission with all approvals.

These limited edition one-off hand signed pressings could be sold at a substantial increase in price over what the regular albums would sell for, used as a special promotion or pre-release event, or as an incentive or reward for special fans, etc.

All vinyl orders come with 3 test pressing at no extra charge. But you can add as many test pressing as you want to any order at a cost of $6.00 ea., plus one-time $50.00 set up charge.Test pressings are usually available within 30 days of the order submission and approvals.

As an additional option, we can package the vinyl in the full color cardboard sleeve. We would simply add the qty needed to your original vinyl order.
Cost for additional 12” color sleeves to use for the test pressings:
4-24 @ $3.00 ea., 25-49 @ $2.50 ea., 50-99 @ $2.00 ea., 100 + @ $1.50 ea.
Otherwise, test pressing come with white protective paper sleeve.

If you would like to take advantage of the faster limited addition test pressing option, simply let us know and we can add those details to your order.

Mastering for vinyl is very different than what is typically done for CDs, so you do not want to use the same master/mix used for your CD or digital release. Vinyl is not the same as a digital CD or DVD. The primary difference is that it vinyl records are an analog medium and not digital. Because it is analog each record will be different in its ability to record and playback the music that is put on the record. You should not necessarily expect the same sound out of each album.

For best resuts, please submit the highest resolution audio master files possible - as high as 24 bit/192 kHz but at least 16 bit/44.1kHz.

--Mastering Tips--

Please follow these mastering guidelines for best results:

• All bass frequencies should be centered - below 150 Hz.
• Phase issues in the bass frequencies can cause a collapse of the groove, causing a skip.
• Too much sibilance will cause distortion on playback. This should be addressed at the mix level for best results.
• Avoid excessive high frequencies. Excessive frequencies above 10 kHz can cause distortion.
• Try to avoid using psycho acoustic processors to an excessive degree.
• Do not clip waveforms. This technique is often used in cd mastering to achieve a hot level, and usually causes distortion when cut. If a recut is requested on a record cut with clipped audio, it will be fully billable.
• Avoid too much limiting. Too much brick wall limiting can cause distortion in the cut.
• Recuts requested due to distortion on material that has been excessively brick walled will incur additional costs if not resolved before manufacturing.
• A distorted master will likely sound more distorted when transferred to vinyl. Watch the distortion on the mix.
• Keep in mind that due to the limitations of vinyl, high frequencies are reduced the further you get towards the center of the record, and the potential for distortion increases. Sequence your master accordingly. It is best to put quiet songs or ballads on the inside. Try to avoid sequencing the loudest song as the last track.
• Try not to exceed the maximum recommended playing lengths per side, as longer playing times will lead to a dramatic decrease in recording level and dynamics. On the other hand, the requirements of extremely high recording levels decrease the possible playing time.
• Try to avoid 7inch vinyl formats at 33 1/3 rpm as the possibilities of the recording and reproduction are most limited at this format. If there is no other solution you have to take into account that the final product will be in some way compromised. Low groove speed limits the recording level and causes a higher decrease of the high frequencies into the middle of the record and can also cause higher distortion levels. Due to these limitations we cannot guarantee eq and level. We recommend using 45rpm up to 5:00 per side, and in some cases even longer sides (5:30) can be cut at 45 with better results.

Once your master is received, Crystal Clear partners with acclaimed LA vinyl mastering facility Infrasonic to cut lacquer and begin the process. This process is handled by vintage Scully LS-76 cutting lathe as well original Neumann Lathe with custom RCA electronics. Having trained with acclaimed vinyl mastering engineer Richard Simpson (RCA), our engineers have the experience necessary to deliver an exceptional record combined with the fresh perspective of a fellow musician (when they're not working, you can find most of our engineers on tour or in the studio with their own bands).

MAXIMUM TIMES PER SIDE: If you exceed the maximum time suggested for a record side, it can affect the quality of the audio. This is because distortion and high frequency loss become an issue as you near the center of the record. The longer the record, the more program is packed into the inner dimensions of the record. Also, longer running times will result in a quieter record, which will make the noise floor of the vinyl more apparent.

12 Inch
45rpm: 12 to 15 minutes
33rpm: 17 to 22 minutes
*Longer times may compromise levels and/or EQ.

7 Inch
45rpm: 3 to 4 minutes
33rpm: 5 to 6 minutes